Young Scientists in Action
Building Critical Thinkers for a Better World
Foreword by Drs. Angela Calabrese Barton and Edna Tan
Empower every student to make positive change through science
Elementary teachers face the immense challenge of lesson planning across multiple subjects, often under the weight of standardized testing that prioritizes reading and math. Too often, this leaves science overlooked—even though it holds the power to enrich literacy, numeracy, and, more importantly, students’ understanding of the world. With the right support, science instruction can move beyond worksheets and standards checklists to become a subject where curiosity and critical thinking drive learning and students see connections to their own lives. This resource empowers educators to reclaim science as a space for relevance, meaning, and impact where it matters most—in the classroom.
In Young Scientists in Action, authors Alesia Mickle Moldavan and Bailey Nafziger provide educators with the tools to transform elementary science classrooms into dynamic spaces where students critically engage with real-world issues. Using phenomena-based and community-focused approaches, this resource equips educators with practical strategies and ready-to-use lesson and unit plans that foster critical thinking and agency. By transforming science into both an academic pursuit and a catalyst for social change, the authors ignite purpose and engagement in the classroom.
With a focus on actionable solutions for today’s most pressing challenges, this book helps educators leverage science to inspire empathy, critical thinking, and community change in young learners by providing
- An Elicit–Investigate–Interrogate–Act Framework designed to guide educators through four key phases of instruction that foster critical connections between science concepts and societal issues
- Lesson and Unit Plans that are interdisciplinary and ready to implement, and address real-world challenges such as environmental sustainability and accessibility for all learners
- Teacher Reflection Tools that include prompts, teaching manifestos, and strategies for small steps for big impact
- Connections with Standards like NGSS and enriched with practical advocacy strategies, providing a strong foundation for aligning instruction with authentic science practices that inspire students to envision and create a better future.
Offering practical strategies and evidence-based insights, Young Scientists in Action paves the way for educators to create classrooms where all students see themselves as scientists and advocates for change.
Young Scientists in Action is a timely and necessary book that challenges science educators to reimagine science teaching through the lens of social justice. It offers practical strategies to empower students to recognize, critique, and act on societal inequities by using science as a powerful tool for change. I highly recommend this book to every science educator and every leader committed to transforming science education into a force for equity, justice, and community empowerment
Young Scientists in Action is a practical guide for elementary educators striving to make science meaningful, equitable, and action-oriented. Moldavan and Nafziger offer a powerful framework and ready-to-use lessons that center student voice, critical thinking, and real-world relevance. This book supports teachers in creating classrooms where all students see themselves as scientists and change agents, capable of understanding and improving the world around them.
This book provides a resource I wish I had as a practicing teacher. Children are naturally curious about science, fairness, and their world, so connecting science and justice-centered teaching is a great fit. The authors provide key information about facilitating these connections and positioning learners to use their science knowledge to take action in their world.
I had the opportunity to try a lesson in this book. It was engaging for all my students. I was able to scaffold and extend it to meet the needs of all learners. I appreciated the interdisciplinary elements woven into the lesson and that my students could easily connect the learning to their daily lives.
This book is very important for elementary science teachers. Young Scientists in Action shows how easily science as a tool for advocacy and for social justice can be brought into the classroom with young learners. I can’t wait to bring the Elicit-Investigate-Interrogate-Act Framework for Social Justice Lessons format into my elementary science methods classroom.
In this relevant and timely book, the content and resources inspire teachers and administrators in engaging young students to tackle culturally relevant issues at early ages, which is critical in developing scientific literacy. Highly recommended!
This book powerfully emphasizes the dual importance of fostering critical thinking and scientific knowledge. The “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors” metaphor brilliantly connects social justice to education, highlighting equity in science classrooms. It’s an essential read for educators committed to inclusive, reflective, and transformative teaching practices.
Young Scientists in Action: Building Critical Thinkers for a Better World just makes sense from a mathematics and STEM education perspective, while leveraging creativity for active and engaged learning. The authors have built a strong framework for supporting the fundamental development of critical thinkers through an approachable and logical organization of complex ideas.
As a mathematics educator and STEM educator who has worked extensively with teachers and students, the development of critical thinking is a cornerstone for success in each STEM discipline. This book takes a fresh look at critical thinking, which situates learning from the perspective of investigation and scientific inquiry, as an important motivational factor in becoming an engaged and thoughtful thinker that transcends disciplines.